ˇOn Wednesday, May 27, the first cruise liner Enchantment of the
Seas arrived in Cozumel with 2,446
passengers on board.
ˇTomorrow, the cruise liner Freedom of the Seas will reach the
island with 3,300 passengers. On Saturday, it will be Holiday?s
turn, with 1,452 passengers.
ˇTourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo Torres underlined that the three
boats together represent an economic stimulus of US$580,000.
CozumelIsland in the state of
Quintana Roo set off its path to economic recovery yesterday with the
reception of the cruise liner Enchantment
of the Seas and its 2,446 passengers.
The cruise, operated by the Royal
Caribbean International Cruise Line, was received by a very special welcome
committee. Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, Governor Felix Gonzalez
Canto, Mayor Juan Carlos González, and Mexico Tourism Board?s General
Director Óscar Fitch Gómez were waiting on dock for the passengers.
Furthermore,
tomorrow, Friday, the cruise liner Freedom
of the Seas will reach the island with 3,300 passengers. On Saturday, it
will be Holiday?s
turn, with 1,452 passengers. This
come-back will boost Cozumel?s tourism industry,
considered home to one of the largest cruise ports in the world.
After one month without receiving cruise liners, this activity
promises a significant improvement. Rodolfo Elizondo estimates that the
economic stimulus of US$580,000 provided by the three cruises is a clear
example of the destination?s recovery.
"The reactivation of operations in
this port is a clear signal that tourism is coming back to Cozumel
and to the country. Travellers will see that Mexico is not only beautiful but
also strong and capable of meeting difficult challenges. Furthermore, Mexican
people are ready to give a very warm welcome," said Elizondo Torres.
Secretary Elizondo also pointed
out that within the next 30 days, 39 cruises are expected to come to Mexican
ports; of those, Cozumel will receive 26.
Freedom of the Seas will then venture on to dock on the mainland in Quintana Roo?a fruit of the "Vive Mexico" tourism promotion
campaign launched by the federal government.
MTB?s general director Óscar Fitch
Gómez reveals that the coming of Enchantment
of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, andHoliday
are not only proof of the revival of the sector but also an example of the
confidence by travellers and companies in Mexico?s tourism industry and its
first quality services and hospitality for international visitors.
The Mexico Tourism
Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments,
municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and
destinations nationally and internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico?s
tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the
private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America,
Europe, Asia and Latin America.
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